Congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear: occurrence of an "open" lesion.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of an "open" form of congenital cholesteatoma to facilitate better understanding of the different histopathologic forms and their differing clinical presentations.


METHODS
Retrospective case review.


METHODS
Tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Ten patients diagnosed with congenital cholesteatoma, that is, a white "pearl" behind an intact tympanic membrane with no history of trauma, ear surgery, perforation, or otorrhea.


METHODS
Audiometry, high-resolution computed tomography scan of the temporal bones and intraoperative findings.


RESULTS
Two of 10 patients had lesions located in the anterosuperior quadrant of the mesotympanum. Four patients had lesions involving the entire middle ear cleft. Four patients had lesions in the posterosuperior quadrant. Seven of the patients were found to have a typical "closed" cyst, whereas the remaining three patients showed an open cholesteatoma matrix.


CONCLUSIONS
Apparently, there are two types of congenital middle ear cholesteatoma: a closed keratotic cyst and an open matrix. Patients with open cholesteatomas may have a clinical presentation that is uniquely different from the classical description of congenital cholesteatoma.
Soderberg
K C
KC
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock 72205, USA.
Dornhoffer
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018424:Cholesteatoma, Middle Ear / Q000150:complications / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed